How did the Araucanian peoples live in southern Chile before Spanish rule?

Before Spanish arrival, the Araucanian peoples—comprising the Picunche, Mapuche, and Huilliche—lived in scattered farming villages throughout south-central Chile. While they shared a common language, they lacked centralized political or cultural unity, typically organizing themselves at the village level under the leadership of a chief, or cacique.123

Their way of life was primarily agricultural; they cultivated crops such as corn (maize), beans, squash, potatoes, and chili peppers. They supplemented their diet through fishing and hunting, and they kept guinea pigs for meat. Additionally, they raised llamas, which served as vital pack animals and provided wool for weaving fine fabrics, which were sometimes traded with the Inca to the north. They also possessed established traditions in metalsmithing and pottery-making. Although some sources describe them as having nomadic hunting and gathering elements, they are historically characterized as settled farmers who maintained distinct regional identities before the pressures of colonization forced them to reorganize into broader military alliances.123